One of the things steampunk fans love is a slightly insane invention (ideally powered by steam). One of the most wonderful aspects of Victorian times is that utterly serious inventors came up with literally thousands of bizarre and wonderful ideas.
This is one that genuinely worked, as written about in 1868 here: http://www.davidbuckley.net/DB/HistoryMakers/1868DederickSteamMan.htm
Mr. Zadock Deddrick1, a Newark machinist, has invented a man; one that, moved by steam, will perform some of the most important functions of humanity; that will, standing upright, walk or run as he is bid, in any direction, and at almost any rate of speed, drawing after him a load whose weight would tax the strength of three draught horses. . .
The man stands seven feet and nine inches high, the other dimensions of the body being correctly proportioned. . . He weighs five hundred pounds. Steam is generated in the body or trunk, which is nothing but a three-horse power engine, like those used in our steam fire engines. The legs which support it are complicated and wonderful.
What could possibly go wrong?
Sadly, it was too expensive for general use.